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Here's a look at the new movie I saw this week.

Avengers: Age of Ultron
Starring: Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, James Spader, Elizabeth Olsen, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Samuel L. Jackson, and Cobie Smulders
Synopsis: Back in May 2008, Robert Downey, Jr. first appeared as “Iron Man.” At the time it felt like a good superhero film, something that was in plentiful supply. But “Iron Man” was different. It was part of a larger vision. Seven years and 10 movies later, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is well established, incredibly popular and a stale of popular culture. What began with “Iron Man” has become a global phenomenon. The latest entry in that universe is “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” the second superhero team up film, and a story that is built upon the worlds established and grown throughout 10 previous movies and two seasons of a weekly series on ABC. It’s a titanic accomplishment, and one that’s bringing people to theaters in droves. “Age of Ultron” has a lot to accomplish in terms of building on the Marvel world and setting up what comes next. In addition, it has its own story and action set pieces as befit a big summer blockbuster. But what writer/director Joss Whedon has brought to these “Avengers” movies is character development and lighter moments of humor. That was what helped make “The Avengers” feel like something different, and he carries that through with this sequel. There are a few moments and sequences — such as an extend sequence on a farm in the middle of the film — that do a lot to make these characters feel real and lived in. The action set pieces are impressive, but it’s the little work to bring humor and humanity to these characters that’s key. Aside from that, “Ultron” does everything you’d expect from an Avengers movie. It builds one everything that’s come before it, including nods to all the fans who watch these movies and TV shows to put the bigger picture together. It also does a lot of work to tie together a number of storylines and set up what will follow in the next few movies. And it does everything while mixing in the action, special effects and giant sequences that you’d expect to see in a summer blockbuster. I enjoyed “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” but under the weight of all that it had to accomplish in this ever expanding cinematic universe, I liked the first “Avengers” a little better. Still, “Avengers: Age of Ultron” is everything you’d expect from a giant summer blockbuster. It’s got humor, it builds the world, it grows its characters and it delivers the action and excitement you want from a big superhero team up movie.
Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action, violence and destruction, and for some suggestive comments.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

Upcoming Releases:

Friday, May 8 — "Hot Pursuit," "The D Train"

Friday, May 15 — "Mad Max: Fury Road," "Pitch Perfect 2," "I'll See You in My Dreams"

Friday, May 22 — "Tomorrowland," "Poltergeist"

Friday, May 29 — "San Andreas," "Aloha"